More transparency sought in aquaculture project
Queens-shelburne MLA Kim Masland attended a rally in Fort Point, Queens County last week against the expansion of Cooke Aquaculture’s sea farming operations.
Masland has been working with residents to assess what a potential expansion would mean for the community. Masland says many constituents are concerned because the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture has given Cooke Aquaculture’s Kelly Cove Salmon an option to apply for new fish farm sites in the bay just outside Liverpool.
“My job is to be the voice at the provincial level. Members of the community have said, loudly and clearly, that they don’t want this expansion, yet they don’t feel like their concerns are being heard by Minister Colwell or Cooke Aquaculture,” said Masland. “The community should have a significant voice in any decision taken by the Liberal government.”
Masland has written to Minis- ter Colwell, asking him to make wasn’t an open forum to ask questhe process more open and transtions and voice concerns. Minister parent. She said last week she had Colwell has confirmed this is the yet to hear back from him. only meeting Cooke is required to
“I want tohave.beclearinmyposition. I fully support industries like
He also confirmed that the aquaculture. What I don’t support is a company and a government company must submit all feedthat isn’t transparent,“said back it receives from the comMasland. “No one has been able munity. to tell me or the community what Masland encourages all residthe economic benefit is to the host ents with concerns and questions community. We have a thriving to submit them to Cooke. tourism and seafood industry, “I want to assure everyone both that are booming. Just last that I will continue to work on year, Shelburne county won bragyour behalf and make sure your ging rights after selling the
concerns are heard,” says highest value of lobster in the province. We can’t jeopardize it.” Masland.
In a media release Masland “Everyone with concerns or says a public meeting was held in questions must write to Cooke Liverpool a few weeks ago but Aquaculture. I will push Cooke to residents left disappointed as it make these submissions public.”